A set is a collection of objects called the elements or

members of the set. Set braces { } are usually used

to enclose the elements. In Algebra, the elements of
a set are usually numbers.

• Example 1: 3 is an element of the set {1,2,3}

Note: This is referred to as a Finite Set since we
can count the elements of the set.
• Example 2: N= {1,2,3,4,…} is referred to as a
Natural Numbers or Counting Numbers Set.
• Example 3: W= {0,1,2,3,4,…} is referred to as a
Whole Number Set.
• Example 4: A set containing no numbers is
shown as { } Note: This is referred to as the
Null Set or Empty Set.
Caution: Do not write the {0} set as the null
set. This set contains one element, the number
0.
• Example 5: To show that 3 “is a element of”
the set {1,2,3}, use the notation: 3  {1,2,3}.
Note: This is also true: 3  N
• Example 6: 0  N where  is read as “is not
an element of”
 Two sets are equal if they contain exactly the
same elements. (Order doesn’t matter)
• Example 1: {1,12} = {12,1}
• Example 2: {0,1,3}  {0,2,3}
In Algebra, letters called variables are often used
to represent numbers or to define sets of
numbers. (x or y). The notation {x|x has
property P}is an example of “Set Builder
Notation” and is read as:

{x  x has property P}
the set of all elements x such that x
has a property P

• Example: {x|x is a whole number less than 6}

Solution: {0,1,2,3,4,5}
 Real Numbers

Graph of -1
1 11
2 4
o o o
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

coordinate

Each number on a number line is called the

coordinate of the point that it labels, while the point
is the graph of the number.
 Real Numbers
• Real numbers consist of all the rational and
irrational numbers.
• The real number system has many subsets:
– Natural Numbers
– Whole Numbers
– Integers
 Natural Numbers
• Natural numbers are the set of counting numbers.

{1, 2, 3,…}
 Whole Numbers
• Whole numbers are the set of numbers that
include 0 plus the set of natural numbers.

{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,…}
 Integers
• Integers are the set of whole numbers and their
opposites.

{…,-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,…}

 Rational Numbers
• Rational numbers are any numbers that can be
expressed in the form of , where a and b are
integers, and b ≠ 0.
Example :
 36.8
 0.125
 4.5
 0.333…
 1.9ത
 7.689689…
 Rational Numbers
• Repeating decimals are decimals that contain
a infinite number of digits
• Terminating decimals are decimals that
contain a finite number of digits.

Prove that 𝑥 = 0.13611361136 … is rational

number !!!
 Irrational Numbers
• Irrational numbers are any numbers that cannot be
expressed as a
b
• They are expressed as non-terminating, non-repeating
decimals; decimals that go on forever without repeating a
pattern.
• Examples of irrational numbers:
– 0.34334333433334…
– 45.86745893…
– (pi)
– 
2
Venn Diagram of the Real Number System

Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers

 Example
• Classify all the following numbers as natural, whole, integer, rational,
or irrational. List all that apply.
a. 117
b. 0
c. -12.64039…
d. -½
e. 6.36
f. 
g. -3
To show how these number are classified, use the Venn diagram.
Place the number where it belongs on the Venn diagram.

Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers

Integers
4  6.36
4
Whole Numbers 9
9
Natural -12.64039…
-3 0 Numbers

117

1

2
 Intervals
A subset of the real line is called an interval if it
contains at least two numbers and contains
all the real numbers lying between any two of its
elements.
Types of intervals
The order properties of real numbers
2. Find the solution of −5 ≤ 2𝑥 + 6 < 4
Theorem
If 𝑎, 𝑏 ≥ 0 then 𝑎 ≤ 𝑏𝑎2 ≤ 𝑏 2  𝑎 ≤ 𝑏

Problem
1. Find the solution of 3𝑥 + 1 < 2 𝑥 − 6
2. Find the solution of 2x + 1 < −4𝑥 + 3
Exercise
 Exercise
13. 𝑥 − 1 < 2 𝑥 − 3
14. 2𝑥 − 1 ≥ 𝑥 + 1
15. 2 2𝑥 − 3 < 𝑥 + 10
16. 3𝑥 − 1 < 2 𝑥 + 6